Another great week for me this week!

Went out with the girls on Monday and managed 6.8k running most of it - we completed it in exactly an hour.

Went to Wednesdays training session with Love Running Manchester. I really wanted to see a difference in my training this week as for the past few weeks I have increased the amount I have been running yet only completing the same distance (those 3 full laps!). Anyway this week I had determination! I managed to run for most of the whole session - up and down the hill 4 times!!!!! A full extra lap!!!!! And I did the full hill every single time without stopping. The whole 4th lap I did without stopping. Boy was I tired at the end of it though. I finished with the stretches and then went for a McDonalds tea ha! Surely I deserved it after that! I was so proud of myself.

So then it came to Saturday's session. Ok so I didn't go to the session on Saturday. I know you're thinking I'm a let down but hear me out! We found out late on Friday night that there was going to be a professional photographer on Saturday morning - taking action shots! Well we were not ready for that ha! First thing on Saturday morning (the day after a 14 hours shift my I add) I did not want to try to look glam whilst trying to run around the park, tired and out of breath. We knew that if we went we would be conscious of it all the time and end not really trying our best.

So to make up for it we decided to make up our own new route and go it alone (well with each other really). Bright and early we were up and planning a route. We decided to combat one big hill (Old Kiln Lane - if you live near me) and then we'd head through a bit of countryside down hill and back our usual way. We mapped it out as about 9k give or take a little. So off we went.

We got the hill and although it was tough we gave our best shot - I only had 2 little rests and I'm determined next time to have none! Straight back down the hill we went and took the turning into the little country side bit. I thought "brilliant, all the hard bits are done now, all down hill from here Lyndsay tells me." And it was really lovely to run through the hills, past some horses and dog walkers. Then.... there's a hill! So up the hill we go to a bit of flat. Then what? Another hill! So up we go. There's a theme here - all hills! It actually made us laugh - No idea where we were, no roads to be seen, just hills, dirt tracks and horses! Oh and a reservoir which I took a picture of from one of the hills! ( I'll upload it later-HA) It was tough and we were beginning to get tired but determination kept us going.

Eventually we can to a road and guess what - IT WAS ALL DOWN HILL - YAY! We had made it! So off we go down the hill and we finally reached the main road to take us back home. We had made it near the Beehive in Horwich! We had to do a little cheer as we got on to that main road but we knew it was a good 4kish back and we were getting tired - but its that thing called motivation! We had run a lot of it already - unsure how much we had done (checking the app part way through is not allowed!). We managed to keep going, having a few short breaks as our muscles were screaming at us to stop!

First thing we did when we got to the end of that road? Check the app!!!! We had completed 10.7k in 1 hour 31 mins! We were so proud! Then we had to stretch - stop those muscles getting tight! I was so tired but so pleased. Felt good about it all day! Next time I want to do it quicker! And at least we will know the way!

So I'm sorry to disappoint those who wanted to laugh at me for torturing myself in to doing this 10k but at the moment I'm really enjoying it! Just a little blip a few weeks ago but back on track! I'm sure there will be another blip somewhere a long the line if you keep reading :)